Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-09-09
4 VETERAN VIEWS.
l. the G. A. K . SOn-P Partisan Organiza-
ions-An Interesting Letter.
pI,aAtrro Dfr-rtrS

~
To ne Editor Of ps DsPd'A-
The pages of the partisan press have
been full of bile for some days because Of
the pension, st. Louis and Wheeling az
fairs. If one had no better source of infOr
nation except a certain city journal, one
would be led to conclude that the whole
G. A. Z. were voicing their sentiments
through the said ~utterances. / am very
glad to be able to say such is not the ase
In late issue the journal / quote de-
claIes the whole Democratic press are try
ing to make believe the q. 4. R. is a PO-
Iitical organization. II its columns are to
voice u sentiments, then no other con-
clusion could he reached. / am n of the
old members of the old (or frst) G. A. L.
o yaniEation. a Republican Of the Reoubil-
cans-an abolitioDist-oGe who does not
believe in returning rebel" Tags or join
in rebel raids, whethe: done by the
President Of the United States or by u.
A. r. post or posts; bat l do think the or
binary deeencies Of life demand that this
tanning tine fame Of partisan hate and
R~elfishnsss come TO that end. The vapOr-
ings of the organs will do more to destroy
the G.. 4. Z. than all else that has been
said and done.
There are many members OF the u. 4. X.
who are Democrats, who went TO the war
for love of eountry-not OF place or money;
who served with distinction and came
home covered with wounds, wrecked IN
health, and who are distinguished M
honorable members to-day.
These men sotel for Grover Cleveland
and are glad they did. Fhey gill prOba-
bly, yote for him again which u the.r
blood bought" privilege. They regard
his soldier record quite as good as hat OF
the gentleman who headed the other ticket
and whatever other impression he may
have made on the country. he has pro-
foundly impressed most people with the
idea that he is al honest, Straightforward,
business Eiat Of q President. And after
all, the people wan ,Egt such men, no
what party puts them i0rSagG.
The President has been both hrm and
KIND in dealing with the soldier. He has
appended his name TO more pension bills
than any oJses President ever did since
the war. When conyiaEsS il was wrong,
he has refused 30 TO do, he has susSn
10 have the courage of his convic-
tons, and that il more than can be said OF
his distinguished antagonist for the Preal-
deDcy.
Now, as to the rebel flags I Was as
-. man c,y,1I h. annut that order
But let Justice be done t. the President.
That order originated through a grand old
yetera1 soldier, WON no man who has any
regard for the truth dare G-l 3 copper
head" II was wrong-wrong in principle
and wrong in law. But whose was the
greater wrong? The Presidents order or
the sugg stion ofthe distinguished military
man behind him?
G. A. X. posts have done the same thing
They haze returned rebel flags and other
contraband Of wsF and were applauded for
it.
1t was wrOng-wTOug an i4W 9Ed wrong
in principle. II Is just as mucn d crime
for a u A r. post to return a rebel flag
as it is for the President of the United
States to do it. Just as dislOyal for the
one as Gcr the other.
The attacks On :be President, it seems to
me, are u~nbecoming to anyone who pre-
tends to loyalty, and therefore have /, an
old soldier, spoken as l have. Dir. Cleve-
land Is the President Of the United States,
and as such is my President. If called
upon to serve in the army / sEorld be re-
quired TO swear TO obey him, Just as the
Democratic soldier swOrc to obey Mr.. I'm
coin, and | should do so with perfect conf
dence in his integrity. Not only is his
office sacred, but his person also, to every
trua American, while he is President.
Pardon lie. Mr.. Editor, but | feel that
Justice TO the G. 4. z. demands that some
one should speak out at this time, who by
and character has a right to speak,
that the Grand Army Of the Republic re-
ceive no harm from this unseemly quarrel.
4 VETERAN.
allegheny, September 3, 1857.
THE above communication is from a dis
tinguished veteran and G. A. r man, who
all through the war, and who re-
quests that It be published on behalf Of
bis comrades. He is not a politician, but
4 staunch Republican,